Arlington Heights man charged with killing three of his girlfriend's cats

March 28, 2013|By George Houde | Special to the Tribune

John Talmo (Arlington Heights Police Dept. photo)

Authorities say that between June and February an Arlington Heights man killed three cats that belonged to his girlfriend.

John Talmo, 22, of 200 the block of north Derbyshire Avenue, was charged in the Rolling Meadows branch of Cook County Circuit Court with aggravated cruelty to an animal. A judge today set bond at $125,000.

Assistant State’s Attorney Moe Ahmad said the killing started in June, when Talmo was watching a cat named Princess while his girlfriend was away. He strangled the cat and told his girlfriend that it had suddenly died, Ahmed said.

In October, Talmo strangled and beat to death a cat named Abigail, Ahmad said.

The body of a third cat, Piper, was taken to a veterinary hospital in February, and the cause of death was found to be strangulation and beating, Ahmad said.

When police questioned Talmo, he told them he lost his temper when the cats scratched or bit him, Ahmad said.